Finance Manager, Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

Finance Manager, Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

Finance Manager, Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

Project Overview and Role:

About the Education Pathways to Peacein Mindanao (Pathways) Program

Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) is aPhilippines-Australia partnership supporting quality inclusive kindergarten tograde 3 education for all children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region inMuslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The program focuses on earlyyears education as the foundation for life-long learning and development. Byengaging and collaborating with a wide range of education stakeholders,promoting peace in education reform, and addressing inequity and disparity ineducation delivery, the program also contributes to peacebuilding in theregion.

Delivered through theBangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE),activities are directed towards strengthening education policies andinstitutions, ensuring accessible and inclusive education for all children,providing an integrated education system and curriculum, and improving teacherquality and development.

The program’s base ofoperations is in Cotabato City and covers all five provinces of BARMM.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the project employee donot involve direct contact and working with children or young people.

Purpose of the Position: The Finance Manager is responsible formanaging Pathways’ financial operations and ensure full compliance with thePalladium Corporate Policies, the Program’s Operations Manual including allrelevant financial policies and procedures, the Commonwealth Procurement Rules,the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines, and local financial andaccounting legislation.

Duties: The duties of the FinanceManager include but are not limited to:

Budget Management
1. Ensure Pathways financial systems are compliant with donor and Palladium standards and fit for purpose;
2. Ensure that financial systems are operating effectively;
3. Prepare regular and lifetime budgets and documents as required, in a format agreed with DFAT and monitor compliance of expenditure against activity proposals and budgets based on approved annual plans. Flag any significant over/under- spends to the Deputy Team Leader Operations and relevant risks that may be associated with the program budget;
4. Review and evaluate costings of proposed program activity proposals (PAPs) and procurement requests based on approved annual plans and provide corrective advice, if necessary;
5. Draft and recommend to the Deputy Team Leader Operations policies and procedures on budget and finance management and contribute to the review and updating of the Program Operations Manual;
6. Ensure that all Pathways transactions are carried out as per the Pathways’ Operational and Financial Procedures Manual as guided by the Commonwealth Procurement Rules;
7. Be responsible for all internal monitoring of accounts, anticipate internal and external audit requirements (including drafting of Audit TORs), and report to the Deputy Team Leader Operations key issues and concerns;

8. Ensure delivery and timely processing of all invoices;
9. Ensure that payments and cash disbursements for the program have sufficient documentary support;
10. Arrange and monitor all project fund transfers;
11. Prepare financial reports and other documentation as required including but not limited to six monthly progress report, fortnightly/monthly management dashboard report, annual report, in accordance with Pathway’s procedures, Palladium and DFAT / donor’s requirements;
12. Draft client invoice in coordination with Palladium headquarters;
13, Manage debtors and creditors in an efficient manner, that is in line with cash flow forecasts prepared in conjunction with other members of the team;
14. Actively mitigate against risk relating to fraud and misappropriation of funds in line with Palladium and DFAT policies;
15. Provide guidance on financial management of sub-grantees and sub-contractors in collaboration with the Grants and Due Diligence Manager;
16. Review financial reports from sub-grantees / subcontractors;
17. Perform other tasks as may reasonably be required by the Deputy Team Leader Operations or the Team Leader.

Statutory and Tax Compliance

18. In consultation with the Deputy Team Leader Operations and the external resident agent, manage Pathways’ statutory and tax matters ensuring full compliance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Team Management

19. Lead, guide and mentor other members of the finance team;
20. Manage and supervise Pathways team members’ performance. Develop and review their annual performance and professional development plans in line with Pathways performance management systems.

Finance Manager, Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

Project Overview and Role:

About the Education Pathways to Peacein Mindanao (Pathways) Program

Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) is aPhilippines-Australia partnership supporting quality inclusive kindergarten tograde 3 education for all children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region inMuslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The program focuses on earlyyears education as the foundation for life-long learning and development. Byengaging and collaborating with a wide range of education stakeholders,promoting peace in education reform, and addressing inequity and disparity ineducation delivery, the program also contributes to peacebuilding in theregion.

Delivered through theBangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE),activities are directed towards strengthening education policies andinstitutions, ensuring accessible and inclusive education for all children,providing an integrated education system and curriculum, and improving teacherquality and development.

The program’s base ofoperations is in Cotabato City and covers all five provinces of BARMM.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

ChildProtection: Level 1

The responsibilities of the project employee donot involve direct contact and working with children or young people.

Purpose of the Position: The Finance Manager is responsible formanaging Pathways’ financial operations and ensure full compliance with thePalladium Corporate Policies, the Program’s Operations Manual including allrelevant financial policies and procedures, the Commonwealth Procurement Rules,the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines, and local financial andaccounting legislation.

Duties: The duties of the FinanceManager include but are not limited to:

Budget Management
1. Ensure Pathways financial systems are compliant with donor and Palladium standards and fit for purpose;
2. Ensure that financial systems are operating effectively;
3. Prepare regular and lifetime budgets and documents as required, in a format agreed with DFAT and monitor compliance of expenditure against activity proposals and budgets based on approved annual plans. Flag any significant over/under- spends to the Deputy Team Leader Operations and relevant risks that may be associated with the program budget;
4. Review and evaluate costings of proposed program activity proposals (PAPs) and procurement requests based on approved annual plans and provide corrective advice, if necessary;
5. Draft and recommend to the Deputy Team Leader Operations policies and procedures on budget and finance management and contribute to the review and updating of the Program Operations Manual;
6. Ensure that all Pathways transactions are carried out as per the Pathways’ Operational and Financial Procedures Manual as guided by the Commonwealth Procurement Rules;
7. Be responsible for all internal monitoring of accounts, anticipate internal and external audit requirements (including drafting of Audit TORs), and report to the Deputy Team Leader Operations key issues and concerns;

Financial Management

8. Ensure delivery and timely processing of all invoices;
9. Ensure that payments and cash disbursements for the program have sufficient documentary support;
10. Arrange and monitor all project fund transfers;
11. Prepare financial reports and other documentation as required including but not limited to six monthly progress report, fortnightly/monthly management dashboard report, annual report, in accordance with Pathway’s procedures, Palladium and DFAT / donor’s requirements;
12. Draft client invoice in coordination with Palladium headquarters;
13, Manage debtors and creditors in an efficient manner, that is in line with cash flow forecasts prepared in conjunction with other members of the team;
14. Actively mitigate against risk relating to fraud and misappropriation of funds in line with Palladium and DFAT policies;
15. Provide guidance on financial management of sub-grantees and sub-contractors in collaboration with the Grants and Due Diligence Manager;
16. Review financial reports from sub-grantees / subcontractors;
17. Perform other tasks as may reasonably be required by the Deputy Team Leader Operations or the Team Leader.

Statutory and Tax Compliance

18. In consultation with the Deputy Team Leader Operations and the external resident agent, manage Pathways’ statutory and tax matters ensuring full compliance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Team Management

19. Lead, guide and mentor other members of the finance team;
20. Manage and supervise Pathways team members’ performance. Develop and review their annual performance and professional development plans in line with Pathways performance management systems.

The Finance Manager should have the following qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge:

- Degree in Accounting, Business Administrations or related field with strong financial/accounting focus. Preferably Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent license or certification

- Demonstrated strong experience in Financial Management in managerial capacity;

- In-depth understanding of Philippines taxation law, auditing standards and payroll best practices;

- Demonstrated experience in evaluation of bids and financial proposals of subcontractors or service providers;

- Demonstrated knowledge of the Philippines requirements on business organization and registrations to Bureau of Internal Revenue and related government agencies

-Competence to build and effectively manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the company;

- Advanced excel skills;

- Extensive experience utilizing QuickBooks;

- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog;

- Experience with DFAT or other development agency work;

- A high level of integrity, initiative, adaptability, and ability to perform in a high-pressure environment.

- Willingness to be based in Cotabato and totravel to BARMM Provinces

Application Closes on 14 April 2024

Important Note:
Along with their CV (maximum 4 pages), interested applicants must submit a written response (2-4 pages only) addressing their suitability for the role as per the qualifications enumerated above.

Company Overview:

About Palladium  - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion  - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at  and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.